Macron accelerates after no-confidence vote fails

After the surprise reaction. In the majority, where the 49.3’s mood is still uplifting over pensions and cold-sweated no-confidence votes, glances are somewhat feverishly turned to the president. It is Emmanuel Macron who is about to emerge from the forest on Tuesday, March 21. And tie up political rallies. In the morning he invited all the feathered leaders of his camp: Elisabeth Bourne, the presidents of the majority parliamentary groups, the presidents of the Renaissance, MoDem and Horizons, as well as a host of ministers such as Gabriel Attal, Gérald Darmanin, Olivier Dusseau, Bruno le Maire, Olivier Veran, Stanislas Guerini and Frank Riester.

The agenda was turned on its head to make room for the lunchtime summit. The President of the Senate, Gerard Larcher, together with his colleague from the Bourbon Palace, Yael Braun-Pivé, have been invited to the Elysee Palace. Then, at 7:30 pm, Emmanuel Macron receives the majority parliamentarians at the presidential palace. It is about healing the wounds of the majority whose unity has been shaken by the retirement ordeal. Several elected officials have expressed a desire to be able to exchange views directly with the head of state.

It is not yet known when the President will address the French. “He has to do it quickly,” the administration communicator pleads. A fake dish would be harmful, not because the pension reform has passed, everything has passed for public opinion.” Around the head of state, a speech is being prepared with several possible windows of fire, from Tuesday to next week. “It is necessary to speak out,” sums up Renaissance MP Prisca Thevenot. But what to say?

“If the president says it must be wow”

Everyone has their own guess. “Macron needs to instill rationality, explain that he heard a sense of rejection of democracy, but that 49.3 is in the Constitution,” Walker says. The government adviser pushes the boundaries: “The head of state must appoint a new head of government and form a collective with forces from all sides, otherwise in a few weeks we will find ourselves in the same impasse with the immigration law.” And add: “You need a person who can unite people: Gerard Larcher, Francois Bayrou, Bruno le Maire will do their job. If the president says it should be Wowdo not announce the reform of the vocational school.”

In the presidential entourage, two lines clash on the choice of tone: either continue to act on the need for bold but unpopular reforms. Or add some water to the presidential wine while French society is torn in all directions. In private, the head of state is also considering revising the system of governance (teams, allies, etc.). He spoke about this to some elected officials without going into details. If he wants to expand his base, to avoid a new parliamentary crusade, his friends say, on the other hand, he is more upset than ever with rebellious France, which he accuses of “stirring up social coals,” a confidant says.